Morikawa's Triumphant Return
Collin Morikawa, a name synonymous with precision and skill on the golf course, has once again etched his name into the winner’s circle. With a commanding performance, Morikawa clinched the 2023 ZOZO Championship, marking his first PGA Tour win in two years. The tournament, boasting an $8.5 million purse, witnessed Morikawa's strategic play culminating in a decisive victory.
Victory at Last
After a two-year hiatus from the top of the podium, Morikawa returned to form in spectacular fashion. The event, which spanned from October 19 to October 22, saw him finish at 14-under par, establishing a six-shot lead over the closest competitors. This significant margin underscored Morikawa’s dominance throughout the tournament. His last tour win, which came at the 2021 Open Championship, was a distant memory as he lifted the trophy once more, signifying a return to his elite status within the sport.
Notable Performances
The championship drew in some of the game’s best, including Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, who were among the notable participants. Yet, it was Eric Cole and Beau Hossler who emerged as the runners-up, each tying for second place with commendable 8-under performances. Their efforts were rewarded with $748,000 apiece from the tournament’s generous prize pool.
Sharing fourth place at 7-under were Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton, both of whom pocketed $374,000 for their efforts. The leaderboard was tightly packed, with Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun tying for sixth place at 6-under, each taking home $275,187.50.
Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who tied for tenth place at 5-under, earned $221,000 each, while Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira, all tied for twelfth place at 4-under, received $178,500 each. Matt NeSmith finished alone in fifteenth at 3-under par, earning himself $151,640.
Earnings Across the Board
In what was a testament to the inclusive nature of the ZOZO Championship, every participant left with a share of the prize money due to the absence of a cut in the tournament. This structure not only ensures that all players are compensated for their participation but also promotes competitiveness across the field.
Further down the standings, Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery tied for sixteenth place at 2-under, each earning $133,960. Tying for nineteenth at 1-under were Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala, who both walked away with $112,710.
The earnings continued to be distributed as those tied for twenty-first place at even-par received $73,610 each. Players finishing in ties for thirty-first and thirty-eighth places, scoring 1-over and 2-over respectively, earned around $46,167 and $36,210 each. Meanwhile, a tie for forty-first place at 3-over saw players earning $27,710 apiece.
A score of 4-over led to a tie for forty-eighth place, with each golfer earning $20,230. Those tied for fifty-first at 5-over par received $17,743.75 each, and players tied for fifty-ninth at 6-over par took home $16,490 each. Even those who found themselves further adrift on the leaderboard were acknowledged, with a group tied for sixty-fourth at 7-over par earning $15,725 each, and players tied for sixty-eighth at 8-over par securing $15,045 each.
Hayden Buckley, placing seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. The seventy-third place tie at 10-over par resulted in earnings of $14,280 for each involved player. Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, earned $13,940, and Ben Taylor, finishing seventy-seventh at 20-over par, secured $13,770.
The Significance of Morikawa's Win
Morikawa’s victory at the ZOZO Championship is more than just another accolade to his name; it represents a resurgence and a reaffirmation of his prowess in the sport. The payout structure of the event, ensuring that every competitor is recognized, reflects the ethos of inclusivity and competition